Method of manufacturing piston rings



Oct. 7, 1930. E. J. BUDLONG METHOD OF MANUFACTURiNG PISTON RINGS Filed June 27, 1929 INVENTOR.

JBuJlo dwaml Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a'l'. BUDLONG, OF HANFORD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO BUDLONG dz FUNOHESS MOTOR PRODUCTS 00., OF HANIORD, CALIFORNIA Y METHOD OF MANUFACTITBING PISTON RINGS Application filed June 27, 1929. Serial No. 374,249.

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing pistonrings, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sectional ring of the class referred to i having'its'outer -edge, leading face and fol- Afu'rther object of the invention is provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

1 15 an improved construction of sectional, loose fitting piston ring to provide for a check valve action to build up hydraulic pressure for the purpose of sealing the rin .in the piston groove and againstthecylin er wall.

' 20, A further object of the invention is to provide', in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sectional piston ringhaving a check valve action and so constructed and arranged to form a trap for oil, which is pumped in by check valve action, resulting in a reservoir of oil for wall lubrication, for cutting down theexcessive tension points thereby eliminat-- ing the entire tension of ring, which permits of a deeper ring to be employed, and further for breaking up the opposed abutting surfaces ofthesections of the ring.

1 A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a sectional iston ring having a machined turned le 'ng face, a follower face and outer edge resulting, when the ring is used, in a quickand more-eflicie'nt seating.

With the foregoing andotherobjects in view .the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated .in the accompanying drawin'gs, wherein isshown an embodiment of the changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the throughout the several views:

invention, but it is to be, understood that.

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a piston and cylinder showing the adaptation therewith of a sectional piston ring in accordance with this invention and further illustrating an expander for the ring.

Figure 2 is a' fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the adaptation therewith 'of a sectional piston ring in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the sections of the ring.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the check valve action of the ring on the rear stroke of the piston.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the check valve action of the ring on the forward stroke of the piston.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the piston groove filled with oil and the sections of the ring separated by the oil'.

' Figure 7 is a view similarto Figure 6 illus- V trating a modified form'of ring.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective upon an enlarged scale illustrating'the body of a ring section.

The ring comprises a pair of split, opposed, annular sections referred to generally at 1, 2.

The section 1 isthe leading section and section 2 the follower section. The outer side 3 of section 1 is the leading face of the ring and the outer side 4 of section 2 the follower face of the ring. The leading face of the ring opposes the leading wall of the piston groove and the follower face of the ring opposes I the follower wall of such groove, or in other words the follower face opposes the rear wall of the piston groove and the leading face opposes the forward wall of the piston groove. The'leading and follower faces of the ring seat against the forward and rear walls respectively ofthe piston groove.

The inner sides of sections 1, 2 are indicated at 5, 6 respectively. The outer edges of sections 1, 2 are indicated at 7, 8 respectively and provide the outer edge of the ring which rides against the'cylinder wall. The inner edges of sections 1', 2 are indicated at 9, 10 and which oppose'the inner wall of piston groove. The combined thickness of the two sections of the ring is less than the width and depth of the piston groove.

The piston is indicated at 10', its peripheral groove at 11, the forward wall of the groove at 12, the rear wall of the groove at 13 and the'inner wall of the cove at 14. The cylinder is indicated at 14 and that face thereof against which rides the piston ring is indicated at 15.

The section 1 at its inner side 5 is provided with spaced, transversely extending grooves 16 which gradually increase in de th from the outer towards the inner edge 0 said section. The inner face of section 2 is provided with spaced, transversely extending grooves 17 which gradually increase in depth from the. outer towards the inner edge of section 2.

The sections 1 and 2 may be so formed that the groove 16 of section lwill align with groove 17 of section 2, but such grooves if desired may be so set up whereby the grooves I in one section will partly overlap the grooves in the other section or the grooves of one section will be staggered with respect to the grooves of the other section.

' The outer side of each section is slightly roughened as such side is turned or machined and the outer edge of each section is formed in the same manner as theouter side thereof. The inner side of each sectionand inner edge of such section are ground and'smooth. Referring to Figure 8 the roughened, machined or turned outer side of section 1, as well as the outer edge of such section is shown and section 2 will be constructed in the same manner as section 1. The slight irregular surface of the outer edges and outer sides of the sections will provlde for .a quick and accurate seating thereof with respect to the cylinder wall and forward and rear walls of the piston grooves.

The method of producing-a piston ring, in accordance with this invention, consists in machining'or turning the outer side and outer e slightly roughened surfaces, then grinding the inner side of said section to rovide the latter half the size of the ring to e comedge of one-of the sections ofthe ring to prov1 .pleted. The other section of the ring is then machined orturned on its outer side and .outer edge to provide slightly roughened surfaces, after which said section is ground on its lnner side to provide the section half the.

size of the ring to be completed. The inner sides of said sections are positioned against each other which completes the ring and the latter will have its leading and follower faces and its outer edge slightly roughened which, when the ring is used, will providefor a quick and accurate seating thereof.- The inner sides of said sections are transversely grooved after the grinding operation. The ring body is of a thickness lessthan the width and depth of the piston groove.

the check valve action. The

- solid ring of the piston grooves a trap or reservoir for oil and on the rearward or down stroke of the piston the ring-functions as a checkvalve,

in that the leading section of the ring abuts against the forward wall of the groove and prevents the passing ofthe oil forwardly of the groove. The sections -of the ring when the piston moves downwardly coacts with the walls of the piston groove,to provide the reservoir and with the discharge for the lat ter being rearwardly of the rear section-of the ring. When the piston moves forwardly the rear section of the ring sets up a check valve action as it engages the rear wall of the groove and extends upwardly from the latter and the sections of the ring in connection with the walls of the groove provide an oil reservoir and with the discharge being forwardly of the forward section of the The grooves provide ports and the ports act to provide traps for'the oil pumped n by ressure created by the check valve action fills the traps and groove with oil, which spreads two pieces of the ring against the groove wall and outagainst the cylinder wall, orin" other words, i

the hydraulic force spreads the ring in the groove. The ports further provide to allow center of the face of the ring. This makesa of oil against the cylinder wall, just at the oint where the oil is needed.

This fact ma es the ring a lubricating ring,

so there is no chance of getting-too much tension in the ring or expander, for there can be nocyl'inder wall wear if there is no friction, and there can be'no friction because the ring is lubricated from the inside of ring, through the ports. As this oil pressure dies down, the check valve action builds it 'back up.

Arranged within the groove 11 and interposed between the. ring-and wall 14 is an expander 18 of polygonal contour.

When the ring is compressed and positioned-around the piston, the tension against the cylinder wall is not uniform. The arrows in Figure 1 show where the points of excessive tension are. The ports provided by the grooves of the ring section are placed between the points of'excessive tension, thus weakening the ring at'the right placeto lessen the excessive tension at these points, or in other words, decreasing the tensional strength of the ring at the points of excessive tension,

thereby making the tensialpressure against the cylinder wall more uniform. A further advantage is obtained by providing the ring sections with the grooves, as a deeper ring can be used and still be as flexible as a more shallow ring without ports. The depth and shallow reference is to the distance indicated at X in Figure 3. The advantage of a deep ring is to keep the ring from rocking in the groove, and a deep ring will have a longer life. Another advantage of the ports is to break up surfaces to eliminate any chance of the two sections of the ring sticking together instead of sticking to their respective groove walls.

Figure 7 discloses a modified form of ring and the sections thereof are indicated at 19, and are constructed in the same manner as the sections 1 and 2, with this exception that section 19 is provided with an outer beveled corner 21. Otherwise than that asstated the form shown in Figure 7 is the same as that shown in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive.

It is thought the many advantages of a piston ring, in accordance with this invention can'be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is: v

1. A method of manufacturing a two part resilient, split piston ring consisting in slightly roughening throughout the outer side of each part, forming spaced, transverse grooves on the inner side of each part, then reducing the thickness of each part from its inner side to half the thickness of the ring when completed,'and then positioning the inner sides ofsaid parts in opposed relation to complete the ring.

2. A method of manufacturing a two part,

resilient, split piston ring consisting in slightly roughening throughout the outer side and outer edge of each part forming spaced, transverse grooves on the lnner side of each part, then reducing the thickness of each part from its inner side to half the thickness of the ring when completed, and then positioning the inner sides of said parts in opposed relation with their outer edges flush to complete the ring. I

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

' EDWARD J. BUDLONG. 

